Native resolution

As an LCD consists of a fixed raster, it cannot change resolution to match the signal being displayed as a cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitor can, meaning that optimal display quality can be reached only when the signal input matches the native resolution.

An LCD has to scale up a smaller image to fit into the area of the native resolution.

In theory, some resolutions could work well, if they are exact multiples of smaller image sizes.

But in practice, most monitors apply a smoothing algorithm to all smaller resolutions, so the quality still suffers for these "half" modes.

This is most often recognizable upon close inspection, as there will typically be black edges visible on either side of the panel horizon.